College Bowl Season Begins in New OrleansTwo exciting football bowl games will draw thousands of fans to New Orleans this holiday season

NEW ORLEANS – Dec. 13, 2010 –Continuing its reputation as the country's best destination for sports and special events, New Orleans is prepared to welcome two annual college football favorites: The R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (Saturday, December 18; kickoff at 8 p.m. CST) and the 77th Annual Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic (Tuesday, January 4; kickoff at 7:30 p.m. CST) at the Louisiana Superdome.

“New Orleans is the perfect sporting city,” explained Stephen Perry, president and CEO of the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We have everything fans need to enjoy themselves before, during and after the game. This year visitors can enjoy pre-game festivities in the newly opened Champion Square at the Superdome complete with live musical performances and food and beverage service. For those not attending the game, our diverse offerings of bars, pubs and clubs provide a variety of options for visitors to watch in the company of fellow fans. And let’s not forget, New Orleans was voted #1 for Nightlife by Travel + Leisure readers so there will be plenty of fun to be had post-game as well.”

10th R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: December 18, 2010, the Troy University Trojans and the Ohio University Bobcats will battle it out on the field for the 2010 R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Festivities include the R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Fan Fest at Fulton Street on Friday December 17, 2010, at 6 pm. Fans are invited to attend and enjoy live music, Santa Claus and his reindeer and more at the Miracle on Fulton Street holiday experience. The R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl’s estimated economic impact is $15 million.

77th Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic: Celebrating its 77th anniversary, this year’s Sugar Bowl game on January 4, 2011, pits the University of Arkansas from the Southeastern Conference against Ohio State University from the Big Ten Conference for the first time in Sugar Bowl history. Last year’s Sugar Bowl Classic’s estimated economic impact was $140 million. Country music's Darius Rucker will highlight this year’s Allstate Fan Fest activities. Fan Fest is a free event which runs from Noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday, January 2 and Monday, January 3 on Decatur Street adjacent to the Hard Rock Café (Jax Brewery Parking Lot). The event will culminate with Rucker performing a free show beginning at 6 p.m. on January 3.

Interviews to provide travel tips and suggestions for fans traveling to New Orleans available upon request.

The New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau is the driving catalyst for New Orleans’ largest industry, strategically leading national and international marketing, public relations and visitor services efforts that attract millions of visitors, events, conventions and festivals. Consistently recognized as one of the top five CVBs in the country, the New Orleans CVB celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010. For more information, please visit www.neworleanscvb.com.